Surgical table



May 9, 1967 R. P. HERZ OG V SURGICAL TABLE 5 Sheet-Sheet .1

Filed May 15 1964" INVENTOR. ROBERT P. HERZOG R. P. HERZOG SURGICAL TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1964 m: wz Ww:

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ROBERT R HERZOG R. P. HERZOG SURGICAL TABLE May 9, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 7.

Filed May 15, 1964 INVENTOR. ROBERT P. HERZOG Unitcd States Patent Office Patented May 9, 1967 vania Filed May 15, 1964, Ser. No. 367,807 6 Claims. (Cl. 269-324) This invention relates to surgical tables and, more particularly, to the type of surgical table suitable for use in obstetrics.

The invention is primarily concerned with an obstetrical table wherein the patients may be supported in supine position with their legs on leg rests which are individually articulated to the table by a mechanism which is interconnected to the back rest and through which the movements of the leg rest and back rest can be synchronized to move the patient to a position satisfactory to the attending physician.

The leg sections are connected in a direct 11 ratio with the adjustable back rest section of the table. The leg rest and back rest may be moved through a neutral transfer position whereby the table top and leg sections are moved in a semi-horizontal position. Raising and lowering of the back rest is therefore coordinated with raising and lowering of the foot sections. Control by means of a crank is provided for raising and lowering the back section and for raising and lowering the leg sections. All of this can be accomplished from a crank accessible both at the head end of the table and at the foot end.

The leg sections have outrider supports which are adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the leg sections. These outriders are adjustable along the axis of the section inferior of the popliteal break to extreme inferior edges of the foot sections. The outn'ders slide through this range and have constant tension to support bearing down weight of the patient. The outriders are capable of locking in any vertical position as well as lowering below the hori zontal axis of the leg sections to provide clean table approach for transfer of a patient.

The upper leg sections above the popliteal break are connected to the perineal edge of the back section or back rest so as to permit movement thereof as described above herein.

A handcrank is provided for Trendelenburg movement of the table and hand grips are provided on the end of elongated levers, the levers being swingably attached to the table and adapted to be locked in any predetermined position relative to the table.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an improved surgical table.

Another object of the invention is to provide a surgical table which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efiicient to use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a surgical table in combination with a control mechanism wherein the back rest and leg rests swing in synchronism with each other and, further, wherein the leg rests may swing in and out and be extended, all controlled by a simple mechamsrn.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hydraulic control mechanism for a table.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved electric control mechanism for a table.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanical control mechanism for a table.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit of sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a surgical table according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of yet another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the invention as shown in FIG. 4.

Now with more particular reference to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 shows a table generally at 10. The table is supported on a pedestal 11. The pedestal is of a conventional telescoping type having a hydraulic jacking mechanism actuated by the foot actuated lever 12. The pedestal is supported on the floor head end of the engaging members 22. The table has a back section 13 swingably attached to the pelvic section and leg sections 14 swingably attached to the inferior edge of the perineal section. It will be noted that the leg sections may swing up and down, and also swing laterally away from each other as well as being capable of being extended or lengthened. That is, the leg sections are pivotally supported on the transverse rod 15 and may swing laterally about the vertical pivots 16. The leg sections are generally supported on the sliding assembly 17 which slides longitudinally.

The assembly made up of the sliding frame 25, transverse rod, leg supports 14, and associated links all are supported on the fixed frame 18 by the transverse shaft 15 which slides in slots 19 and the ends 34 of the members 35 that slide in the slots 33. Thus, when a force is exerted on the members 34, the entire assembly is slid forward in the slots 19 and 33 to move the leg sections forward and thereby extend them.

The links 24 are attached to the rigid extensions 22 and when the handle 23 is pushed forward, it will cause the links 24 to draw the extensions 22 together and thereby swing the leg sections 14 outward. When the center handle 53 is pushed forward, it will cause the bearings 31 to slide on the ways 25 and thereby, through the links 27, cause the leg sections and the back section to swing upward. Thus, it will be seen that the leg sections are given a motion swinging outward and inward toward and away from each other, upward and downward, and laterally by the controls indicated at the head end of the table. The same controls can be actuated by handle 50 at the perineal end of the table.

An infant shelf 40 is supported between leg supports 14. The infant shelf is slidable to a position completely under the table where it is out of the way of the attending physician. When in this position, the front edge of the shelf 40 and 240 will be flush with the front end 41 and 241 of the pedestal of the table 10.

The shelf may be drawn forward so that its front edge is disposed at 42 and 242 and may be further drawn out until its front edge is disposed at 42" and 242". In the latter position, the leg supports may rest on the shelf and the shelf will function to assist in transferring patients.

The shelf 40 and 240 will be sufficiently wide to completely fill the space between leg supports 14 and 214 and therefore it will when extended prevent the patient from falling between the leg supports. The shelf is slidable between ways that extend under the table which are of conventional design. When in the fully extended position the end of the shelf will be supported in the ways and hold the shelf rigid. A second shelf 44 will be supported below the shelf 40. This shelf is useful for supporting a placenta basin or the like. Shelf 44 will be slidable under the table on suitable ways and movable out to the position shown in FIG. 5. When shelf 240 is slid under the table out of the way, the shelf 244 will be accessible.

In the embodiment of the invention show in FIG. 3, the leg sections 114 are swingable about the vertical pivots 116 and swingable vertically around a transverse shaft 115. The entire assembly is supported by means of the movable frame assembly 134 which slides in the slots 133 and also supported at the leg end of the table by a transverse shaft 115 which slides in the slots 119.

The hydraulic cylinder 135 causes the bearings 130 to slide on the ways 125 to act through the links 129 to swing the leg sections 114 up and down about the transverse shaft 115.

The hydraulic cylinder 137 acts through the olfset wheel 138 to swing the leg rests about the vertical pivots 116 toward and away from each other.

The hydraulic cylinder 140 slides the entire frame assembly longtiudinally of the table to cause the transverse shaft 115 to slide in the slot 119 and cause the shafts 135 to slide in the slots 133.

The controls forcylinders 135, 137, and 140 can be actuated through remote control actuating valves by means of handle 155 which, when rotated, can cause the leg sections to swing toward and away from each other when pushed to cause the leg sections to extend and, when moved up and down, can cause the leg rests to swing about the transverse shaft 115.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, a table similar to that shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 is shown; however, the table is actuated by the motors M1, M2, and M3. Here, the leg sections 214 are vertically swingably supported on the transverse shaft 215 and swung laterally about the vertical pivots 216. The motor M1 acts through links 235 to cause the bearings 230 to slide on the ways 225. This acts through the links 229 to move the leg rest extensions 230 and thereby swing the leg rests up and down about the transverse shaft 215.

The leg sections are divided into two sections as shown in the figures and indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5 as hinged together at 246. A control means such as hydraulic cylinder 247 may be used to support and swing the sections 248 and 249 of the leg supports. The cylinder 247 may be controlled by a suitable connection to a source of compressed air or hydraulic fluid. Obviously an electrical motor could be substituted for the cylinder 247.

The motor M2, through the links 240, will slide the entire frame assembly longitudinally to extend or to retract the leg sections.

The motor M3 acts through the links 224 to swing the leg sections toward and away from each other.

Switches for controlling the motors M1, M2, and M3 can be actuated from a handle 250 supported on the head end of the table which maybe made to actuate the motor M2 to extend the leg sections when the handle is pushed or pulled. It can be made to swing the leg sections up or down through motor M2 when the handle 250 is rocked up and down and it can be made to swing the leg sections toward and away from each other when it is twisted.

A similar handle 250 controls switch box 251. This switch box is located conveniently for the surgeon from the perineal end of the table.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure'shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents 4 7 without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A surgical table comprising:

a pedestal,

a back section,

a seat section,

a pair of laterally spaced leg sections,

means on said pedestal swingably attaching said back section and said leg sections thereto,

means connecting said leg sections and said back section whereby they swing vertically in synchronism V with each other,

means on said table accessible from one end thereof for moving said leg sections laterally relative to said pedestal and each other, vertically, and for extending said leg sections longitudinally relative to said pedestal, said means to extend said leg sections comprising a transverse member slidably supported on said table, said leg sections being attached to said transverse member and means for sliding said transverse member longitudinally.

2. The table recited in claim 1 wherein:

said means for moving said leg sections comprises a single handle adapted to be grasped by the hand of a person.

3. The table recited in claim 2 wherein:

said handle is adapted to actuate three separate actuating devices,

one said actuating device adapted to actuate said back section and to swing said leg sections in a vertical plane,

one said actuating device adapted to elongate said leg sections,

and one said actuating device being adapted to swing said leg sections laterally.

4. The table recited in claim 1 wherein an infant shelf is supported on said table below said leg sections,

said infant shelf being slidable to a position under said table and movable out from under said table to a position underlying substantially the entire leg sections.

5. The table recited in claim 4 wherein a second shelf is disposed on said table below said infant shelf,

and means on said table whereby said second shelf may be moved under said table and from under said leg sections.

6. The table recited in claim 4 wherein said infant shelf underlies said leg sections when moved to a position under said table and said leg sections rest on said infant shelf when disposed in position with the top surface thereof substantially flush with the top of said table.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 964,170 7/1910 Leonard 269-325 1,571,205 2/ 1926 Laurent 269325 2,679,445 5/ 1954 Roehm 269-328 2,714,541 8/1955 Reichert 269-328 FOREIGN PATENTS 452,994 9/1936 Great Britain.

HAROLD D. WHITEHEAD, Primary Examiner, 

1. A SURGICAL TABLE COMPRISING: A PEDESTAL, A BACK SECTION, A SEAT SECTION, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED LEG SECTIONS, MEANS ON SAID PEDESTAL SWINGABLY ATTACHING SAID BACK SECTION AND SAID LEG SECTIONS THERETO, MEANS CONNECTING SAID LEG SECTIONS AND SAID BACK SECTION WHEREBY THEY SWING VERTICALLY IN SYNCHRONISM WITH EACH OTHER, 